IMMUNOLOGIC STATUS AND IMMUNOLOGIC CHANGES BY TREATMENT IN BREAST CANCER PATIENTS

Abstract

Immunologic status was investigated in 273 patients with breast diseases (209 cases of primary breast cancer, 32 of recurrent breast cancer and 32 of benign breast disease). Before start of treatment, we examined 14 immunologic parameters about all patients to know the immunologic status. Patients were divided into the following 4 groups : A) operation only (28 cases), B) operation + adjuvant chemotherapy (FEMP) (28 cases), C) operation + FEMP + Levamisole (28 cases), D) operation + FEMP + Krestin (28 cases).The following results were obtained.1. Cell-mediated immunity in breast cancer patients was kept on the same level as benign breast disease in Stage I & II, and fell down slightly in Stage III, and was impaired definitely in Stage IV & recurrence.2. Lymphocyte blastogenesis to PHA & PHA-S were the most reliable parameters related with the breast cancer clinical staging (U.I.C.C.) and PHA skin test, peripheral lymphocyte count and T cell count ranked next place.3. From the result of average of five parameters (peripheral lymphocyte count, T cell & B cell count and PHA & PHA-S blastogenesis), immune response in early stage (I & II) breast cancer was rather higher than in benign breast disease.4. Immunoglobulin levels (IgG, IgA, IgM) did not related with staging.5. Suppression of cell-mediated immunity by radical mastectomy was very slight.6. Immunosuppression by adjuvant chemotherapy (FEMP combination) was severe and continued for almost one month after the therapy, but when combined with Levamisole or Krestin the immunosuppressive effect was prevented and/or recovered earlier.